PATIENTS waiting outside, frequent deep cleans and fewer staff are just some of the ways in which a Shaftesbury dental practice has adapted in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Monday, June 8, Ivy Cross Dental Surgery in Grosvenor Road opened its doors for the first time since March, but with different procedures and measures in place the team has completely transformed their way of working.

Surgery principal Doctor Geoffrey Cockrell said: “We have been itching to get back to work, but it is now a very different working format. We are taking it very seriously, it’s about looking after our lives and more importantly the patients’ lives.”

To adhere to social distancing and to maintain the safest possible environment for patients, the staff are dealing with emergency cases and urgent treatments only, and those attending the surgery must wait outside in their cars until called in.

When entering Ivy Cross, patients will have their temperature checked and will be required to clean their hands, before being taken straight through to their appointment.

Despite fewer dentists and staff onsite, more personal protective equipment (PPE) will be in use, and each appointment will be followed by a deep clean of every room, the corridors and reception area, which Dr Cockrell described as “labour intensive but vitally important”.

To allow time for thorough cleaning between each appointment fewer patients will be seen each day.

With the first week of operation now over, concerns have been raised surrounding levels of PPE.

Dr Cockrell said: “The future of regulation is unknown, and now with schools reopening and masks compulsory on public transport [from today], everybody is buying the same PPE.

“Understandably people want to protect themselves and their families, but it becomes difficult to source PPE.

“The problem is that this is a different experience for everyone, and we all need this PPE for so many different reasons.

“The government seems frustrated and unsure of what to suggest for protecting ourselves and patients so at the moment everybody just needs to err on the side of caution. And at least we are here able to provide an important service.”

Speaking about how coronavirus will have an impact on the future of dentistry, Dr Cockrell said: “Dentistry has changed throughout history because of so many events – dentists never used to wear gloves which is now unheard of, and after HIV even more PPE was introduced. It is possible these current changes might be permanent.

“We want to use this experience to learn, and that is so important, we need to look at this as an opportunity.

“This has been a really emotional experience for all of us and all of our patients have been so understanding. Some have even offered to pay their next course of treatment [in advance] to keep us going.”